Bill > H3939

This bill aims to support the well-being of new mothers and infants by: 1. Defining "postpartum psychosis" and "postpartum depression" to provide clarity on these perinatal psychiatric complications. 2. Requiring the Department of Public Health to create and maintain a digital resource center with information and resources on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and mandating healthcare providers to provide information about this center to their patients. 3. Requiring that defendants who gave birth within 12 months prior to the crime they are charged with undergo a screening for perinatal psychiatric complications. 4. Ensuring that examinations for female defendants with mental illness related to perinatal psychiatric complications are conducted by an expert in reproductive psychiatry within 48 hours. 5. Providing for additional services, such as parenting assessment and therapy, for those committed to facilities who suffer from mental illness related to perinatal psychiatric complications. 6. Establishing procedures for outpatient status for certain individuals found incompetent or not guilty by reason of mental illness, with specific requirements for those with perinatal psychiatric complications. 7. Allowing for mitigating circumstances related to perinatal psychiatric complications in cases where life imprisonment without parole may be authorized.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H3939